20:20 Zelensky: Russia must feel the consequences of the war it started
After the Ukrainian army's push into the Russian region of Kursk, Volodymyr Zelensky states that Russia must feel the consequences of the war it initiated. "They brought the war to Ukraine, now they should feel what they've done," says the Ukrainian president in his daily address. However, Zelensky did not directly mention the advance of Ukrainian troops in Kursk. Neither did other Ukrainian officials comment on the Ukrainian army's offensive that began on Tuesday. Thousands of people were evacuated on both sides of the border. Zelensky says he received three reports from the commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrsky; the military actions were "efficient" and "exactly what the country needs now." Some observers believe that the unprecedented advance of the Ukrainian army in Kursk aims to occupy Russian territory to gain a better position in future peace negotiations.
20:05 Zelensky praises the army's ability to surpriseVolodymyr Zelensky praises the Ukrainian army for its ability to "surprise." However, the Ukrainian president does not mention the fighting in the Russian region of Kursk. In the border area, Russian troops have been trying to repel an offensive for three days. There has been no official statement from the Ukrainian side on this so far.
19:44 Russian military blog reports western part of Sudja in Kursk region under Ukrainian controlThe Ukrainian army continues its surprise offensive across the border into the Russian region of Kursk, making territorial gains. While civilian Russian authorities in Kursk and the Ministry of Defense in Moscow officially stated that the Ukrainian advance has been stopped, the Russian military blog Rybar, which is close to the ministry, paints a different picture. According to Rybar, the Ukrainians are pushing forward, bringing in reserves at night and fortifying their positions. Rybar reports that the western part of the town of Sudja is under Ukrainian control. Fighting is ongoing for the eastern part of the town. Additionally, the Ukrainians have advanced north towards Anastasevka and northeast towards Korenovo. However, local reports suggest there is no Ukrainian presence in Sudja itself. Only shooting and artillery fire are reported north and west of the town. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Ukrainian reconnaissance units have also advanced towards the Kursk nuclear power plant and have been spotted near Anastasevka.
19:04 SPD to discuss stationing of US missiles in Germany in SeptemberWolfgang Hellmich, the defense policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, announces a debate in the German Bundestag on the stationing of long-range US missiles in Germany. "It's important that we consider everything and take the concerns of citizens seriously, and clear up information," Hellmich told the Funke media group newspapers. "We will deal with the issue in the group and in the Bundestag as a whole after the parliamentary summer break in September to meet the existing information and discussion needs." The German government and the US government have agreed that the US will station long-range weapons systems such as Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany from 2026, capable of reaching targets in Russia. Many German citizens view this decision critically, according to polls.
18:19 US-American Woman Accused of Collecting 51 Dollars for Ukrainian Military - Russian Prosecutor Seeks 15 Years in PrisonRussian prosecutors are seeking a 15-year prison sentence for a Russian-American woman accused of high treason, according to state media. Ksenia Khavana was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February. She was accused of collecting money for the Ukrainian military. In a closed-door trial on Wednesday, she reportedly pleaded guilty to the charges. News agency Interfax reports today that prosecutors have requested the 15-year sentence, citing Khavana's lawyer Mikhail Muskalov. The verdict is expected on August 15.
Khavana is said to have become a US citizen after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She had traveled to Russia to visit family members. An activist group claims that the charges against Khavana stem from a $51 (around $47) donation to a US charity that supports Ukraine. Russia has enacted laws since its military deployment to Ukraine in February 2022 that criminalize criticism of its actions there. Concerns have grown that Russia may target US citizens for arrest.
17:54 Moscow Reports Ukrainian Losses in Fighting in Kursk RegionRussian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov told President Vladimir Putin during a video conference that about 100 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and more than 200 others were injured in the fighting. Russian news agencies report. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says that at least two people - a paramedic and an ambulance driver - were killed in Ukrainian shelling. Another 24 people were injured.
17:28 SPD Politician Stegner Cautious About Possible Use of German Weapons in KurskSPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner is cautious about the possible use of German weapons in the Ukrainian advance. "As far as the defense of Ukraine against the Russian war of aggression is concerned, there was an exceptional situation in the border area when the city of Kharkiv was under great threat from attacks beyond the nearby border," Stegner told the "Handelsblatt". "This did not imply a general shift in strategy regarding the handling of weapons supplied from Germany." The German government had allowed Ukraine, after a long debate in late May, to use weapons supplied by it against targets in Russia. However, this applied only to the Russian border area with the region of Kharkiv.
17:00 ISW: Ukraine advances kilometers into Russian territory
The Ukrainian army has made significant progress in its ongoing offensive in the western Russian region of Kursk since Tuesday morning, according to estimates by experts. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), based in the US, reports in a statement that the advance is "up to ten kilometers," while Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka claims it's more than 25 kilometers. Ukrainian President's advisor Mykhailo Podoliak described the situation in western Russia as a consequence of Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine. Russian reports indicate that "up to a thousand" Ukrainian soldiers, along with dozens of tanks and armored vehicles, are involved in the attack. So far, at least five civilians have been killed and another 31 injured. The ISW further states that the "current extent and location of Ukrainian advances in the Kursk region (...) suggest that Ukrainian forces have breached at least two Russian defensive lines and a position." The Ukrainian advance is reportedly targeting a key Russian army supply hub near the city of Sudzha, eight kilometers from the border.
16:28 Kiesewetter calls Ukrainian advance in Kursk "militarily strategic"
CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter described the Ukrainian advance in Kursk as "militarily strategic." He told the Tagesspiegel that this could "ease pressure on the front at other points because Russia has to tie down or redeploy forces to Kursk." Kiesewetter also stated that the Ukrainian advance is "clearly permissible under international law, in accordance with the right to self-defense" (see also entries from 14:45 and 15:07).
15:57 Ukraine: Two killed in Russian attack in Donetsk
At least two people were killed in a Russian artillery attack on the city of Kostyantynivka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, according to local authorities. The attack, which hit a residential area, was reported by regional governor Vadym Fіlshkin on Telegram. Donetsk is a hotspot of the conflict, with the Ukrainian-controlled parts of the region regularly subjected to Russian shelling. Russian troops are attempting to advance on the strategically important logistics hub of Pokrovsk, an industrial and mining city. Just yesterday, at least four people were killed in a Russian attack in Donetsk.
15:36 Russia: Fighting continues after Ukrainian advance into Kursk
Fighting in the border region of Kursk continues for the third day in a row, according to Russian reports. Russian forces and border guards are reportedly preventing Ukrainian units from advancing deeper into Kursk, while the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces attempting to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy.
15:07 Wagenknecht warns against use of German weapons in Russia: "Red line"
Sahra Wagenknecht has warned against the use of German weapons in the Ukrainian advance into Russian territory. "This is a highly dangerous development," she told the Funke media group. "The Federal Chancellor must call the Ukrainian President and demand that no German weapons be used in the advance onto Russian territory," the Left Party co-chairwoman demanded.
16:45 Chairman of the Defense Committee: Ukraine can use German weapons in Kursk
The chairman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, Marcus Faber, sees no issue with Ukraine using weapons supplied by Germany in its current advance on Russian territory. "Upon delivery to Ukraine, they become Ukrainian weapons," the FDP politician told the Funke media group. This applies to "any material," including the Leopard 2 battle tank. "With Russia's attack on Ukraine, the territory of both states has become a war zone," Faber explained his position. "The use of weapons is governed by international law."
16:24 Ukraine asks Mexico to arrest Putin at Sheinbaum's inauguration
The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico has called on the Mexican government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of elected President Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum will assume the presidency on October 1, 2024, becoming the first woman to hold this office in the Latin American country. "We trust that the Mexican government will comply with the international arrest warrant and hand over the named (Putin) to the judicial authorities of the United Nations in The Hague," the embassy said. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin for the alleged war crime of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow's invasion in early 2022. Juan Ramon de la Fuente, who was elected as Sheinbaum's foreign minister, stated that it is "standard protocol" to invite the heads of state of all countries with which Mexico has diplomatic relations, including Russia, to the inauguration.
13:50 Monitoring Services: Russian Users Can No Longer Open YouTube
Users in Russia are unable to open YouTube on their computers and mobile devices. Internet monitoring services downdetector.su, Failure Detector, and sboy.rf report a major outage of the platform's availability. According to the sboy.rf service, over 15,000 complaints about the video hosting service have already been registered. Complaints came from people in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Saratov, Samara, Krasnodar, the occupied Crimea, and several other regions. Users reported that they could only access YouTube through virtual private networks (VPNs). Even Reuters reporters in Russia could not access YouTube. However, the website was still available on some mobile devices. YouTube is the last Western platform still accessible in Russia, making it the last bastion of free expression. According to Decoder, over 90 million users in Russia use YouTube monthly, making it the number one video and streaming platform. In mid-July, Russian media reported that the Russian government planned to block YouTube in September.
13:24 EU: Ukraine leads "lawful defensive war" in Russian KurskThe EU views the advance of Ukrainian troops into the Russian territory of Kursk in the context of the right to self-defense. "We believe that Ukraine is conducting a lawful defensive war against an illegal aggression," says a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Brussels. The right to self-defense includes the right to attack the enemy on its own territory. The EU fully supports Ukraine's efforts to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty and combat illegal Russian aggression. Ukrainian troops have recently crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region near Sudja, reportedly taking control of several villages. Russian reports suggest that around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are involved in the operation.
12:43 Ukraine: Dozens of Russian soldiers captured in KurskAfter the incursion of Ukrainian forces into the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers have been captured, according to the Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti" on Telegram. Launched in January 2024 by the Ukrainian military intelligence, this humanitarian project serves as a coordination center for Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine. It aims to help military personnel of the Russian army find their relatives. According to "Khochu nayti", the captives include both conscripts and contract soldiers. "There is also information about the dead, whose bodies were not taken away by their comrades during the retreat," the statement says. The project published drone footage allegedly showing the capture of more than 30 Russian soldiers. Other videos on social media show dozens of Russian soldiers surrendering in the Kursk region. The total number of Russian soldiers captured since the Ukrainian offensive in the region is still unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas transit runs normally despite fighting in Kursk regionThe Russian gas export through the border region of Kursk, attacked by Ukraine, is running largely normally, according to Gazprom. Around 37.3 million cubic meters of natural gas are expected to be transported today, the company announced in Moscow. This is about five percent less than the previous day, the state-owned Russian news agency TASS reported. Ukrainian troops have taken at least partial control of the city of Sudja during their incursion across the border, likely also seizing a gas pipeline measurement station en route to Western Europe. From there, the transit goes through Ukraine and further into Slovakia and Austria. In 2023, despite the ongoing war, 14.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas were transported to the European Union via this route.
11:37 Military blogger: Russia loses "important logistics hub" to UkraineThe Russian city of Sudja in the Kursk region has been taken by the Ukrainians, according to pro-Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka on his Telegram channel. The town is nine kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Podolyaka writes that the city is full of Ukrainian military personnel. "Sudja is basically lost for us. This is an important logistics hub," he writes further. Ukrainian forces are reportedly advancing north towards Lgov. "In general, the situation is difficult and deteriorating, although the pace of the Ukrainian offensive has noticeably slowed down."
11:04 Munz: Kursk Raid "Completely Surprised" MoscowInitially, the situation remains unclear, but it is later confirmed: Ukrainian fighters attack on Russian territory. The push in the Kursk region has "completely surprised" Moscow, reports ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. However, there may be more behind the attack than just a diversionary maneuver.
10:48 Russia: Situation in Kursk After Ukrainian Incursion "Under Control"Russian forces have been engaged in combat with infiltrating Ukrainian troops in the Kursk Oblast for the third day in a row. The situation is "stable and under control," the vice-governor of the border region told the state Russian news agency RIA Novosti. Around 3,000 people have been evacuated to safety. Russian troops are actively fighting against Ukrainian units in the Sudja district and pushing them back, the news agency TASS reported, citing local authorities. Four people have been killed in the Ukrainian attacks. The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on the offensive in Kursk. Several pro-Russian military bloggers also write about ongoing fighting.
10:18 Kriewald on New Offensive: "Ukrainians Advance 15 Kilometers into Kursk Region"The Ukrainian army's advance into the Russian region of Kursk is causing a stir in Moscow. Ukrainian soldiers are said to have advanced up to 15 kilometers. Moreover, there are reports of dozens of prisoners of war. ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald reports from Odessa about the background.
09:35 UN: Russians Torture 95% of Ukrainian POWsEmployees of Russian penal colonies are said to torture Ukrainian prisoners of war from the very first interrogations. In addition, the practice of torture in Russian captivity is "widespread and systematic," says Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), in an interview with the Dutch broadcaster NOS. She says that the Russian Federation has tortured 95 percent of Ukrainian prisoners of war in its prisons. According to her, Ukrainian prisoners of war are beaten with metal rods and sticks, stripped naked, and subjected to electric shocks. "This is undoubtedly the worst I've seen in the 20 years of my career," she says. The information about Ukrainian prisoners in Russia is mainly collected through interviews with Ukrainian prisoners of war after their release. At the same time, the UN mission has direct access to Russian prisoners of war and can get an impression of the prison conditions.
08:49 Estonia Introduces Enhanced Customs Controls at Border with RussiaEstonia is introducing full customs controls at its eastern EU external border with Russia. This was decided by the government of the Baltic NATO state at the beginning of August. From August 8, all persons crossing the border to Russia, as well as all cargo, will be subject to control. The controls at the road and rail border crossings in Narva, Koidula, and Luhamaa will be gradually introduced. So far, the inspections of passengers and vehicles have been random and risk-based. With the tightening, Estonia's Prime Minister Kristen Michal aims to prevent the transit and transport of EU-sanctioned goods through Estonia and to strengthen the country's security. The border between Russia and Estonia is 294 kilometers long.
08:11 Ukraine Reports Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has lost around 587,510 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a loss of 1,140 in the past 24 hours. The report from Kyiv also states that two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter have been destroyed. Overall, Russia has lost 8,431 tanks, 16,487 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,293 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale invasion. Western estimates suggest lower casualty figures, but these are likely minimums.
07:32 Medvedev Threatens Escalation of Russian Invasion in UkraineDmitri Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and former president, has threatened to escalate the Russian invasion in Ukraine in response to Ukrainian advances near the Russian border region of Kursk. Medvedev said that the Russian military operation should no longer be limited to securing territories in Ukraine that Russia considers its own, and that military forces should advance towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The advance will only stop when Russia deems it advantageous. According to Russian reports, Ukrainian troops have made significant advances into Russian territory during a counterattack, with fierce fighting reported in the region. The state of emergency has been declared in the region.
07:05 Russia Destroys 14 Ukrainian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Over Kursk and BelgorodThe Russian air defense forces have destroyed 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the Belgorod and Kursk regions, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Six drones and five more missiles were shot down over the Kursk region, according to Governor Alexei Smirnov. Early on August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked the border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest reports from the Russian General Staff, clashes continue in border areas. The state of emergency has been declared in Kursk, and residents are being evacuated.
06:25 Ukraine Issues Air Alert Due to Russian MiG-31K AttackThe Ukrainian Air Force has issued an air alert across the entire country. The air attack warning is attributed to a missile threat from a Russian MiG-31K aircraft. The MiG-31K is a Soviet-era interceptor aircraft named after the Mikoyan-Gurevich aircraft manufacturer. The MiG-31K can carry hypersonic missiles like the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles stand ten kilometers behind Russian border in Kursk
According to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian troops have now advanced up to ten kilometers into the Russian region of Kursk. This was confirmed by footage of armored vehicles behind the border. Ukrainian forces are reported to have breached at least two Russian defense lines and a fortress. According to a Russian source, the Ukrainians have captured 45 square kilometers in the Kursk region since the start of the operation on August 6, the ISW writes. Russian authorities had declared a state of emergency over the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for prison sentence in petty theft
President Selenskyj has signed a new law that reclassifies petty theft as an administrative offense instead of a crime. The new law sets the threshold for petty theft at around 67 euros, up from the previous limit of around 6.7 euros. This change is in response to the martial law imposed since the Russian invasion, which carries a prison sentence of up to eight years for looting and theft. An example cited in the draft law is a theft of diapers from a supermarket in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne in January 2023, worth around 8 euros. The thief in this case received a prison sentence of over three years, but would not face such a penalty under the new law.
00:27 Klingbeil: Stationing of US long-range missiles in Germany is correct
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil has defended plans to station long-range US weapons in Germany against criticism from within his own party. "This stationing is right because it helps us to defend ourselves if Russia were to consider attacking us," Klingbeil told the German Press Agency. It is part of credible deterrence. At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced that the US would station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that can reach deep into Russia. These include Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons. There are critical voices within the SPD, with the parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich warning of the risk of military escalation.
22:38 Human rights activist Orlov wants to fight for Russian prisoners
Oleg Orlov, the Moscow human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, plans to continue his civil rights work in exile. "Memorial cannot be destroyed," the 71-year-old said at a press conference at the Center for Liberal Modernity in Berlin. The organization he co-founded, Memorial, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, advocates for political prisoners in Russia. Orlov estimates that there are still at least 800 political prisoners in Russia - conservatively estimated. He finds his new role in exile in Germany difficult, as he would prefer to be in his homeland but fears prosecution. Orlov hopes to be able to advocate for the release of more political prisoners in exile, including eight seriously ill prisoners. "We were very disappointed when it turned out that these people were not on the list - we who were exchanged." Memorial continues to work in Russia despite repression, but also from abroad.
21:30 Not Dead Yet? Known Russian Propagandist InjuredKnown Russian propagandist Yevgeny Poddubny has been injured in the Kursk region. State TV company VGTRK reports on Telegram that Poddubny was injured in an attack by a Ukrainian drone in the Kursk region and was taken to the hospital. Earlier, numerous Russian media had reported Poddubny's death. Yevgeny Poddubny is one of Russia's most famous "war correspondents," with around 734,000 followers on Telegram. Preliminary information suggests he was filming a report on the fighting in the Kursk region on Wednesday.
20:41 Emergency Declared in Region KurskAn emergency has been declared in the Russian region of Kursk amid a Ukrainian ground offensive, the region's governor, Alexei Smirnov, announced on Telegram. The Ukraine has advanced deep into Russian territory near Kursk in a counterattack. The offensive began on Tuesday, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, and reached the northwest of the city of Sujaga on Wednesday.
20:14 Fighting Nearby: Russia Reinforces Protection of Kursk NPPDue to the Ukrainian advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, the Russian National Guard is reinforcing the protection of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. Additional forces have also been deployed to combat sabotage and reconnaissance units in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the agency said. This is being done in cooperation with the Russian border troops and the army. The nuclear power plant, with four units and a capacity of almost two gigawatts, is located only about 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The day before, Ukrainian troops supported by tanks and artillery crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sujaga. Unconfirmed reports suggest they advanced up to 15 kilometers towards the NPP.
19:38 Attacks in Region Kursk: European Gas Price Hits Yearly HighThe price of European natural gas has risen to its highest level this year. The leading TTF futures contract for delivery next month rose by 5.7 percent to 38.78 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh) in Amsterdam. Market participants are citing attacks by Ukraine on the Russian region of Kursk. The fighting is reportedly taking place near Sudza, an important gas injection point for pipelines to Western Europe. Gazprom is currently reporting normal gas supplies.
19:08 Ukraine Evacuates Border Areas Near Russian KurskAmid heavy fighting in the Russian Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of more settlements in the neighboring Sumy region. The measures affect 23 settlements, said the military governor of Sumy, Vladimir Artyukh, on Ukrainian television. About 6,000 people, including more than 400 children and adolescents, are to be moved to safety from the border area. The day before, Ukrainian troops launched an advance across the Ukrainian-Russian border towards the city of Sujaga in the Kursk region, penetrating several kilometers into Russian territory. Moscow spoke of around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy equipment. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. Earlier, local authorities had ordered evacuations from an area within 10 kilometers of the border due to regular Russian shelling of border areas.
You can read about previous developments here.
- The Ukrainian army's advance in the Russian region of Kursk, resulting in territorial gains, has been characterized by the Ukrainian president's advisor as a consequence of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
- The Russian military blog Rybar reports that the western part of the town of Sudja, in the same Kursk region, is under Ukrainian control, with fighting continuing for the eastern part and further advancements towards Anastasevka and Korenovo.
